TWO FROM D.A.’s OFFICE WIN STATE HONORS … SERVICENET: KROL SHARES, MARCHETTI HIDES … LEAKED EMAILS SHOW DEMING DEMISE IN HIGH GEAR
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
Part 1 of 2 Parts
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MAY 5-7, 2023) — Before we get to the core of today’s column, THE PLANET wants to acknowledge Assistant District Attorney Aleah Fisher. She received the Spotlight Award at the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association annual state-wide conference. The Spotlight Award is given to prosecutors who demonstrate outstanding service, spirit, and professionalism.
Berkshire County DA Tim Shugrue, with ADA Aleah Fisher. Both Fisher and Jane Kibby-Pearce won honors from the MDAA.
Fisher joined Director of Victim Witnesses Advocates, Jane Kibby-Peirce, as an award recipient at the 2023 MDAA conference. Kibby-Peirce was bestowed with the Victim Witness Advocate of the Year. The Massachusetts’s District Attorneys Association is made up of over 770 Assistant District Attorneys and over 280 victim witness advocates. We salute Fisher and Kibby-Pierce along with their boss, District Attorney Tim Shugrue.
———- ooo ———-
On Wednesday, THE PLANET broke news of ServiceNet’s plans, with the city’s blessings, to take over two former restaurant spaces in the Beacon Cinema block. This will take more tax-yielding property off the rolls and give yet another free ride to yet another social services agency.
We reached out to the two major candidates competing this year for the corner office to fill the vacancy left by Linda Tyer, who has decided not to run for re-election. Incidentally, THE PLANET was the first of all local media to break that story. Funny thing is that we’re not even trying.
Here’s what John Krol had to say:
Peter Marchetti did not answer our request. You know the drill. When the phone didn’t ring, we knew it was Marchetti not getting back to us.
———- ooo ———-
Now up, Deming Park.
About a year ago, a series of emails were bouncing back and forth among Jim McGrath, Pittsfield “open space” honcho; Nick Lapointe of Fuss and O’Neill, a civil engineering company with a regional office in Springfield; and various “shareholders” including Ed Casella of Pittsfield Department of Public Services, Al DeMartino of the Parks Commission, city engineers, and reps from the Little and Babe Ruth leagues.
Subject at hand: The further “development” (translate: “destruction”) of Deming Park.
As it stands, this once thriving hive of activity and perhaps the best playground in the city has been reduced to a graveyard of two locked up baseball diamonds, reserved for the PRIVATE use of LL and BRL ball, plus a maze of fences, batting cages, and parking lots. What was once truly OPEN space has become a quilt of mismatched parts equalling the ugly sprawl of downtown’s zig-zagged markings.
For a year this group has been plotting behind your backs to doom what’s left of Deming.
———- ooo ———-
All you need to know about the City of Pittsfield’s official attitude toward its citizens, i.e. the public, can be ascertained in “Crime Dog” McGrath’s request of Jon Allard, also of Fuss and O’Neill. Crime Dog asked Allard remove the “‘optional parking’ behind the Palmer’s store…..it seems to be taking on a life of its own. I’d just prefer a plan that does not show that option, and I can share that and quiet down the masses.”
Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski was never intended to see that e-mail. Our Z-Agents, however, dug it up.
McGrath wants the Palmer’s parking lot but he doesn’t want to “show that option.” He wants to hide it so the pubic can’t see what the city is trying to do. He tells Allard that’s how he can present the Deming plan to “quiet down the masses.” He ordered Allard to revise the plan in an email sent to Allard July 6, 2022 at 11:00:51 a.m.
Crime Dog wants to “quiet down the masses.”
That’s you, Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski.
———- ooo ———-
Here’s another email THE PLANET obtained. This one is from Crime Dog to Ricky Rumpus, aka Ricardo Morales, public works cheese.
Feb. 22, 2022
Ricardo
Looking to start the process of addressing a perennial concern at Deming Park: Parking!!! The park is busy, and the current parking lot is chaotic. I’m not traffic engineer, but I think it needs a one-way-in, one-way-out circulation pattern, and we have a ready-made ROW to do that. The exit that I show below is currently a ped. entrance (and driveway for 132 Newell, see street view below). Continuing to make folks pull out of the park at Newell and Meadow Ln. is super dangerous.
I hope that you agree that it would make sense to hire Fuss & O’Neill to assist in an evaluation and to develop some schemes for an improved layout. This is something that we’ve back-burnered for too long. I welcome your thoughts on this.
We’ve recently had discussion with both Little League and with Babe Ruth League, and we’re prepared to make some minor improvements to the situation down there (Ed was involved in that conversation). But it really needs a fully engineered fix.
Thanks, Jim
That’s what they want. A circular drive inside the park that would require demolition of the clubhouse and removal of playground equipment. Entrance would be on the Newell Street entrance just past the former Sacred Heart School. The road, again, all within the park, would proceed to the Newell Street gate opposite Lyman Street.
Trees? Gone. Green grass? Gone. Congestion? Dramatically up.
An aerial view of the Deming Park plan shows how the city wants to build a road THROUGH THE PARK, connecting the two Newell Street entrances. The path is incited by the blue line.
Here’s a copy of the infamous email from McGrath to Allard:
Hi Jon
FW: Deming Park
Wednesday, July 6, 2022 11:00:51 AM Deming Park Concept Master Plan.pdf
Can you remove the ‘optional parking’ behind the Palmer’s store…..it seems to be taking on a life of its own. I’d just prefer a plan that does not show that option, and I can share that and quiet down the masses.
Thanks, Jim
On Monday, THE PLANET will present Part 2 of this series.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
———————————————————————-
“Logic is the reverse engineering of explanation” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
Copyright (c) 2023 By Dan Valenti, PLANET VALENTI and EUROPOLIS MANAGEMENT. All rights reserved. The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. Those who leave comments own all the responsibilities that are or can be attached to those comments, be they rhetorical, semantic, or legal. Such commentators remain solely responsible for what they post and shall be and remain solely accountable for their words. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in, but not limited to, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. We serve as a marketplace of ideas, without prejudice and available to all. All users of this site — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else — hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice and their use of/participation in this site. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.
With all the successful popularity of Ricky’s Round-a-bout of death on Tyler Street, why not a Ricky Round-a-about of death for Deming Park with 4-5 confusing entry/exits. It’s done wonders for Tyler Street, why not the Deming Parking Lot. Actually, I have no objections to Ricky removing his Tyler Street Round-a-bout of death and relocating it to Deming Park. I never go there anyway, so have at it Deming Park.
Love it!
I saw Pete White walking on the roundabout trying to fins a corner
Well gimpy Pee Pee is a blockhead.
If he were a blockhead, he’d find the corner on the rotary.
Round-a-bout of death?? They haven’t even had an ccident never mind a death. Dramatic much.
??? If no accidents many near misses. I can tell you when it was first put in I almost caused an accident because I couldn’t decipher where it started they way they had the cones and signs that day. Luckily for me the other driver must have recognized my confusion and allowed me to enter the rumpus roundabout. I have also on many occasions seen vehicles go straight over the middle circle, up over the curb. I can’t wait until the Park Square honking protesters move to the Tyler St Circle to make sure they are inclusive and equitable! I still wonder if some accidents have been unreported
Just drive over it. The mountable curbing is designed to allow you to straighten your path. That’s what I do. Eliminates all confusion.
Molly it’s only a matter of time before someone is mamed or killed at that poorly designed round about. I myself almost became a statistic. This is typical of what we get from morales. He must go. The Gman will correct that intersection as one of his first official acts as mayor of pittsfield
Good for John Krol for speaking up about North Street’s excessive number of Social Services agencies that drives away most people who do not rely on them. Over 50 years ago, downtown Pittsfield was once a bustling business district. In 2023, North Street hosts 15 empty storefronts, homeless people shitting on the sidewalks, a bunch of social services and not-for-profit agencies, a few banking offices, a Juvenile Courthouse, the Pittsfield YMCA, and so on. The distressed inner-city neighborhoods that surround North Street’s “Social Services Alley” are sarcastically called “The Ring of Poverty”. And the cherry on top of this “shit sundae” is Pittsfield politics’ over $200 million “Pickleball” municipal budget that funds Pittsfield’s Level 5 public schools that over 650 students per academic year choice out of to neighboring public school districts. If were in Peter Marchetti’s shoes, the last thing I would want to do is reply to blogger Dan Valenti’s inquiries because it would make me look like an even bigger @$$ than I already would be as a failed career Pittsfield politician. However, Peter Marchetti is going to have to debate John Krol later this year, which will give John Krol a big opportunity to hold Peter Marchetti’s public record to the proverbial fire! When John Krol speaks up and tells voters that Peter Marchetti is part of the problem in Pittsfield politics, then John Krol will win the mayoral election in a landslide.
Krol “speaking up?” He said nothing in response to a question asked by Dan.
Peter Marchetti’s public record has been a long one of service to the city. Linda Tyer is the mayor in charge. She owns the last 7 1/2 years of failed city policies and decisions. Marchetti is one lone vote on the council.
The last person I would vote for in the upcoming mayoral election is Jon Krol.
You would think that in every election cycle people would want to put forth the absolute best candidate they could find to run in the election at hand. Seems like that would be much better for the citizens than for the elites to just anoint someone based on seniority, or which
family they belong to.
Smarmy Pastor KrollyRoller Krol isn’t feigning ignorance. Two things’ voters can count on with Pastor Johnny k, his mastery of speaking in forked tongues and his genuine ignorance. Can I get an Amen!
Amen and awomen.
And atheythem
My bad. Very sorry!
“Marchetti is one lone vote on the council.” Is that the Sergeant Schultz defense? Good luck with that.
Marchetti “One Pittsfield “ don’t expect me to answer your inquiry until I’m good and ready.
One Pittsfield and Reignite. Let’s be fair.
Oh, I didn’t forget about Krol. It was late night and I had a Pace Maker /Defib just put in and I was wiped. I’ve been in heart failure for awhile now. Krol is playing the I don’t have enough details game. He knew more than letting on.
I thought the anchor B Con ) was supposed to drive thousands into these restaurants. I’m starting to think most of these t I f s are cash and grabs.
AUNTY
Yes. They said a quarter of a million each year would be generated by The Beacon.
And this guy walked away with thousands of taxpayers $ and movie chairs and he’s now complaining about $150 G’s.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/great-barrington-the-triplex-cinema-luke-parker-bowles-richard-stanley-movie-theater-buy/article_e55b05de-eb5a-11ed-9d65-971f450da29e.html
(which will be after the election if he does not drop out first)
But is Krols answer really an answer? It may be a response but it is not an answer. And if that place has been so successful why is it empty?
Neither are what Pittsfield needs. Someone fresh and sanitized from the politics of the usual groups who isn’t beholden to them.
Prime G is on the move. His show will be live from now on. He is light years ahead ofthe other two duds and as accomplished as accomplished can be
Also, ServiceNet already leases office space on North Street. So, basically they’re just moving down the street not INTO the downtown. While I’m against how downtown has become Social Service Lane, I don’t see this as an issue. The number of vacant buildings, now that’s an issue.
Why not have your offices in St. Joe so they can be with the people they are supposed to be helping. I am sure the Diocese would rent to them….has Dottie’s been complaining?
Excellent suggestion, SHIRL.
Off topic but current and MSM won’t cover it.
The third International COVID Summit May 3rd 2023
https://live.childrenshealthdefense.org/chd-tv/events/fluoride-report-or-systematic-review-of-the-science-or-may-4-or-12-30pm-et/fluoride-report-systematic-review-of-the-science-may-4/
Thanks, TRAP.
BUmp
If you are not a sheeple, hit the link about 15 min in.
Americans YOU have screwed like never before
And there is another planned pandemic coming, as the WHO continues to grab power & control from our country with our leaders’ blessing.
it is 8 1/2 hours worth, can You handle scence that long?
Not sure that Beacon property was paying much taxes anyway. Did they not get a long term corner office grift award on taxes? And then had it extended?
“Quiet down the masses”. This remark is probably bandied about a great deal in the back room dealings of city affairs.
And why is someone picking a civil engineering company by name? Does ANYTHING go out to bid anymore?
“And why is someone picking a civil engineering company by name? Does ANYTHING go out to bid anymore?”
Excellent question!
That question I think is the one that needs digging; not a ‘forensic audit.’ FA’s will not review bidding practices.
This is Dan pitching softballs to the unemployed.
Of course Krol will respond immediately, he’s sitting at home in his basement studio.
Marchetti has an actual job and works.
In Dan’s world if Marchetti did answer during business hours, Tiny Dan would complain that Marchetti was campaigning while he’s supposed to be at work.
Krol’s answer is not an answer, it’s political word salad. Why would ServiceNet return Krol’s “call”? He has no office or official capacity. He’s just a philanderer and cheater who’s trying to make political points.
I wonder why if this spot is so “successful” it’s changed occupants 6 times in 11 years? Seems that’s the exact opposite of “successful”. The highland would be considered moderately successful. Mazzeo’s would be considered successful. Not that space. More to the point, why are we focusing on these spaces? There’s entire blocks of space devoid of any businesses or retail space. The fact that a not for profit leases a space doesn’t take it “off the tax rolls”. The owner of the building would have to be a not for profit.
“ This property return (State Tax Form 3ABC) must be filed each year by all charitable, benevolent, educational, literary, temperance or scientific organizations and trusts owning real or personal property on January 1 in order to receive a local tax exemption on that property under G.L. c. 59, § 5 Clause 3 for the fiscal year that begins the next July 1. Veteran organizations seeking exemption of real or personal property under G.L. c. 59, § 5 Clauses 5, 5A, 5B or 5C must also file this return.”
Does ServiceNet own the space and building? No. Then it’s still on the tax rolls.
What did happen was a space that was already shuttered and empty is now being reused. Rent is being paid, jobs are being created. Are they the jobs we want? Hard to say, I suspect they are better paying than restaurant jobs.
Let’s investigate the old Brûlée space, how Krol manipulated and used his position as a city councilor to get his future wife favorable tax incentives and a deeply discounted liquor license. A $100k off a liquor license for the future Mrs. Krol is quite an aphrodisiac.
TINY DANCER
Seems we struck a nerve, eh?!
There’s a lot going there. Some is precise, but accuracy is off. The voice sounds familiar to me. I know this person.
It is both precise and 100% accurate. Show me the 3ABC filed for that property. There isn’t one and it’s not eligible.
Sounds like a former ward councilor.
Spot on.
If someone does an absolutely abominable job as a city council president why in the hell would we move him up to mayor? Has he not already proved the Peter Principle to be a real thing?
Because like all government and military systems they reward incompetence
The piotr principal isn’t proved w/o they retch there heist levul of incompetance
Quick Take, who did you say owned that building or is that info kinda secret? Is it Stanley?
Has Highland been sold?
No
Ah another day in the Pitts and another screwing by our government, some things never change!! As for the Destruction at Deming all they have to do is make the parking in the practice field where the bee hives are and have them exit through the city right of way on to Onota, should cost one day of work if this is what they really want or is it just a payoff for a friend in need. Just read an article on MassLive about how the state wants communities to plant trees for all the benefits they give yet all Pittsfield is doing is destroying our natural environment in the name of special interests!!
Speaking of planting trees.
Pittsfield Community Preservation Committee approved the following:
$8,000 for Park Square trees in the city of Pittsfield. Our leaders make no sense at all. Spend money to destroy a park(s) and then spend money to do this.
Find out is receiving the money for the planting of the trees (and all other city decor) and you might find a clue. How much did this vendor take in from the city last year and the year before?
No idea who the vendor is now. Didn’t Churchhilll Gardens provide at one point?
Do not know but if it is not amoung the secrets kept locally it might be interesting to know. Can anyone pry open the mayors lock box for this info? And if it is secret why is that so?
Thought you’d never ask : ) it’s a chronic problem.
The best answer is that by letting a non profit take up more commercial space is another blow to the taxpayer, and it is a blow to the hopes of revitalizing main street.
1)The Mayor should be directing Downtown Pittsfield Inc and others to formulate signage and other policies to generate an attractive district such as seen in N Adams and Adams and Lee (not pet details such as curbs/parking/bike lanes). If it looks attractive – three things may happen. People want to stick around. People want to look. Vandals go to places that look neglected.
2) As I stated in the tax hike meeting 2022, the root cause of our tax hike is this mayor’s failure to preserve commercial occupancy and generate new ones. One or two newcomers, often with TIFFs, do not buck the downward trend represented by the assessor’s reports. As a result, residents are forced to pick up the slack in the diminishing commercial tax base while commercial districts languish.
I would have thought Krol would speak to this as he had once advocated against regressive tax policies that discourage us from investing in our own homes.
Directing people to an area is important but getting them to stop and stay is even more important. When people enter the area an the first thing they are greeted with are the panhandling , homeless, people pooping in entrance ways etc.. they are going to keep going on through.
or maybe BEFORE you enter that area you bounce your nice car up and down on long neglected roads till the baby is puking in its car seat and the dog has already jumped out of the window.
Good point! I should have stated you first will greeted in Pittsfield with a possibility of a break down courtesy of the conditions of our neglected roads.
WTF, it is cinco del Mayo!
With the open border Biden the Mexicans will be happy to have a road, to call their own!
Sinko de mayo hold the bacon
What would be really kool Charles is if Mr Krol or someone else with the proper clout/power to print on here, in full detail and history, all the TIFFs awarded since they began including those who got second and third bounces.
I have zero plans to vote for either mayoral clown puppet candidate but if Mr Krol dropped this dime I would gain some measure of respect for him.
(there is nothing (ZERO) that Marchetti could do to make me respect him after his council president debacle) No coming back from that mess…
What is the clubhouse? The brick bathroom facility?
That line and the current driving areas are no where near the playground equipment. Nor is the brick building in its path. The only structure in way of that blue line is a batting cage, some trees, and some lawn. This post and description of the work is a bit dramatic.
The real concern here shouldn’t be the park changes but the giant mess that would ensue with four way traffic at the intersection of Lyman and Newell. It would be no worse than the Meadow Lane intersection, and probably 100 times worse. It would require a traffic light installation, not just stop signs. Sounds pricey.
Current administration and council has been a flagrant failure resulting in a total taxpayer let down.
Yes. The brick building. The blue line is indicative, not meant to scale. Trees will go down (NEVER a good thing), lawn (playground space) will be lost, and if they install parking where the clubhouse is, that’s gone too. They might as well do as CITY says: Put in a Ricky Rumpus Rotary and pave over the rest of the park.
We didn’t need the center field scoreboard anyhoo.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/was-tucker-take-down-deep-state-hit
Krol is nothing but a talking head. Marchetti has a full-time banking job, emcees the CC and is running the 4th parade. I’m sure this “issue” isn’t a priority at the moment. I’d be more interested in Linda’s comments.
Well she better hurry up she’s gone in a few months.
Hold onto your seat. This will be the primary Krol for Mayor site.
It’s seems Dan is trying to find a topic to distinguish from the answer of the two Favorites.
We will never get it these two are on and the same. So, to make it look like Krol has the answer which he doesn’t really answer Marchetti will be alienated by said author. And that is Dans job which is perfectly o k with me. One has to make a living doesn’t one?
Kroll and Marchetti unremarkable candidates
and that is putting it kindly
I’d say they are a couple of weak sisters but that would be sexist.
If Marchetti read his job description he might take note that there is more to the job than emceeing the council. Does he think he is hosting a Karaoke competition up there?
FIZZ
Yes, I agree. I asked Pete and John for comment because in all likelihood one of them will be the next mayor. Good to get a preliminary read on how they feel about the continuing inroads of social services downtown.
The Juvenile court of dysfunction now takes up almost an entire block right in the cold dead heart of Main Street Pittsfield USA. And the prospect of taxpayers being forced to support either one of those pukes for the next 4 years makes me vomit. Everything about those two is wrong for the taxpayers, EVERY F%#KING THING! They’re both mangy hyenas. And the only change we can expect from both of them, is that they’ll be even worse than they already are. Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.
In a recent poll on most dangerous places to live in MA 4 out of the top 5 were west of the CT river. Pittsfield and NA were in the top 5. This being said I believe the courts are the biggest business in town because of all the crime and social unrest. Until Pittsfield is able to clean this up it will never be considered a good place to live or start a business
Drugs are the industry and poverty is the cycle, is the industry.
The characters did not get affected by the poppies because they were not human.
Dorothy was.
The Law Enforcement Industry & The Health Care Industry. It’s a collaboration.
The Real Estate Industry; it all goes back in the box at the end of the game.
Suggesting that the Lion, Scarecrow and Tinman were not human is probably racist. Are we going to get into their gender identity next?
The lion was definitely gay and would not have even been allowed to serve in the military at that time in history. The Tinman has so many botched Gender Affirming surgeries that they had to create a whole new spectrum for his sexual identity, and there is litigation going even today. The Scarecrow, actually did get a new brain from Oz but it was defective and recalled and not replaced. He was subsequently fitted with puppet strings and became city council president in Pittsfield, Ma. where he is about as useful as he was when he was rescued from the cornfield.
Brilliant, SNARK! Satire at its best.
A poll? That’s dumb.
If he gets to whack the gavel he’s happy
I would think he has every right to work as gavel
Conrats to Aleah Fisher and Jane Kibby-Peirce Shagrue had Zero to do with that. If you are keeping score the DA is 3-11 in Superior court cases. Two Rapists have been let out with no bail. The Druggies are everywhere, North street is still a mess with crime. The Parks are full with drug activity cars being broken into, thefts at many small businesses. I thought Mr. law and order was on the Job. Now the twin clowns are running for mayor. Pittsfield is DOOMED!
Con rats
Can’t imagine who might be keeping score.
Disgruntled employee
Just curious, since ServiceNet already has a physical space on North St., is the old space being vacated and being made available to another business? Or is it an expansion of their current space?
It’s a relocation.
Thanks
There is no one by the name of Al DeMartino on the Park Commission.
Maybe he is too embarrassed to use his real name?
Thanks, TM for being THE PLANET’s fact-checker.
Didn’t he sing Spanish Eyes?
Or For the good times?
no its tony dimartino
Another failing committee.
Does it really matter?
Some Brits are upset that King Charles coronation is going to cost up to $125 million bucks. Not sure why as that is considerably less than Mayor Tyers budget to make herself queen.
(it was a failed attempt by the way)
Wicked, SNARK!
Tyer couldn’t be reached for comment as she was on the throne
There’s a higher probability of the current city officials building a statue of Tyer in Park Square than there is of her being held to some blame for the poor state she leaves Pittsfield in when
she’s gone.
Maybe they can plant a tree in her honor in Park Square. Like one of those gnarly abusive apple trees in the Wizard of Oz.
A commemorative street sign would be in order. Dina? Set it up.
And then they will tell us the gnarly abusive apple tree is there to relieve the food insecurity of the bums
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLatopxw-0M
OZ trees 90 seconds
ROFL!!!
Good one!
Mankind had been warned by the strongest authority that kings are going to cost way more than their worth. If the Brits got rid of their kings, however, they would also lose a lot of great future literature and TV which, in my mind, is too great a price to pay.
PoMo offed their lit awhile ago.
Well, yes that’s true. That’s why one needs to watch a lot of TV.
Still waiting to see both candidates resumes as Dan promised . But I’m sure we won’t as Krol has blocked this. Dan is for Krol and it shows!
Does Dan? Or anybody have a choice?
You can see G’s resume tonight on pctv.9pm
Well, my take on the move is that it will reduce business property tax assuming ServiceNet doesn’t pay them (assumption) because it’s swapping commercial restaurant for service. That loss is not good. However, it is going in across from McKay – across Berkshire Bank I believe, not on North.
What is good – the business planning regulations have diverted a potential location away from North to a side street.
As others point out here, the bigger fish to fry on this matter is the zombie apocalypse going on downtown. I see a link on this theme and the Demings baseball park. “Bats, bats everywhere but not a one to grab.”
We would have any of this nonsense if it weren’t for the state mandate. Even Jimmy didn’t want the methadone clinic here.
But he did not express any concern about the impact of methadone on neighborhoods. He reserved his concern, if memory serves me, for contaminating Barrington Stage.
The real reason re: this “trust” is so the developer can bypass current restrictions.
It’s a war zone they have been blasting for months down by the water.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/egremont-annual-town-meeting-affordable-housing-trust-budget/article_24906380-e948-11ed-8a3b-3b93d3c53cbe.html
https://theberkshireedge.com/in-support-of-municipal-affordable-housing-trust-at-the-may-2-egremont-annual-town-meeting-warrant/
https://theberkshireedge.com/the-developer-part-six-a-different-prospect-lake-campground-is-coming-into-view-does-it-matter-who-its-for/
I don’t know… does it matter who it’s for ?
There are many people who have posted very positively about the third mayoral candidate but it is evident that they are not kissing your ass Valenti and that is why you are blocking all of their posts. That and the fact that you are a Kroll ass licker. You are for the kapanKis mr.v? What a joke. This site is very dull without info on our third mayoral candidate. Open the flood gates and let’s see what happens. This is a very biased site and very boring lately
I would lose all respect for myself if I voted for either Krol or Marchetti. There are children trying to grow up in this city and THEY deserve better. MUCH better. A vote for either of these special interest puppets is a vote against innocent children.
They say leopards do not change their spots. I have never seen any evidence that embedded politicians do either. They are what they are. They talk out of both sides of their mouths during a campaign and then when they are elected and untouchable they take care of their friends and family first.
I was parking my car at one of the baseball games and I could hear Krol blasting his voice yelling at his kid to run?
What happened on your show third candidate? Have a set malfunction?
Jon technically correct. We are a social services city for most part. We need to address our own issues not some of these junkies from out of city or state.
Pittsfield people , you have a choice for Mayor.
Will it be Satan or worse?
Did anyone recently see an article about a committee studying the closing of an elementary school?
Who will win tonight
Pick your poison, Satan or Lucifer, Ricin or Polonium.
Or Ray Walston.
You can call me Ray,or you can call me Jay but ya doesn’t have to call me Watson.
How about Sherlock?
Most definitely a shit show.
…or you can call me RJ…
What happened to my question that I submitted??
Probably in the garbage bin where belongs.
Yep. I checked – it’s there.
I heard a rumor that Hunter Biden is planning to announce his candidacy for Mayor of Pittsfield politics soon. Hunter Biden will fit right in with all of the deadbeat dads, drug users, sex addicts, financial fraudsters, and being yet another spoiled brat career politician from a Democratic Party-political family. Also considering a run for the corner office are: a mystery man who once ran Pittsfield politics from Naples Florida, a Pot King and Attorney who lives in Boston, a big and jolly old Elf who has a white beard and wears a red suit with black boots who lives in the North Pole, an Easter Bunny who welcomes us into Spring every year, another famous Bunny who says, “What’s Up Doc?”, a mouse that can fly, another mouse who has big ears, an Underdog who shines shoes on his down time, the ghost of Jack Welch who will promise to manufacture neutron bombs and spread PCBs, the ghost of Gerry Doyle who will make Pittsfield the barstool capital of the world, and Jon Melle, who will swim across Silver Lake with Cliff Nilan to burn off the Teo’s hotdogs and beer we ate for lunch.
Well spoke. While you’re there please wipe your feet so you don’t track the PCBs onto the western shore.
Can anyone print on here the t I f Regulations?
They can if they want to lose their job or standing in the community
Why make fun of an old man Jon? What gives?
I shouldn’t “make fun of an old man”, but rather, I should write about the past 50 years of significant losses in population and living wage jobs, the late-barstool, aberration, rolodex, Mayor Montello, the vibrant Gated Community and dynamic Lexus luxury car secretary, candidate banker, candidate unemployed, and the fringe candidate with a history of legal troubles, groomed for Prez of City Council Pete White, the Level 5 schoolmarm on the “Scohol” Committee, Pittsfield’s short and stinky Pot King, dangerous downtown’s Social Service Alley with 15 empty storefronts, the “Ring of Poverty” distressed inner-city neighborhoods that surround North Street, the almost 25-year-old heavily indebted and polluted PEDA debacle, the over $200 “Pickleball” municipal budget, hundreds of millions of dollars in public debts and other liabilities, the city’s top 10 in violent crime status year-in and year out, the only economic growth is in the underclass, and Jon Melle’s story of being persecuted in Pittsfield politics to the Boston Statehouse over the past 27 years by a disgraced former Pittsfield State Senator, who was caught being in bed with Boston’s big banks and insurance companies, and his network of bullies. Now that – Pittsfield politics – is a topic for a good laugh because things couldn’t get any worse, except in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, of course!
Stop with the never ending bs story of how you suffered more than anyone in Pittsfield
and your claim of permanently being a victim who is still persecuted. I think everyone every where has heard of this half baked bs fairytale. What everyone doesn’t know or heard of is what you did to all those people you mention. They had to do something to get you to stop your aggression towards them. They tried hard to reason with you with no effect.
Scam artist.
Weren’t you in one of Hunters vids?
I hope not! Hunter Biden is the WORST!
You voted for him!
I see the city is on track to award $200,000 in CPA funds to mysterious and undefined organization whose purpose and activity no one can fully explain. The money will be used to rehab the former Lach’s Lounge building.
They have no working income, no employees, no 501C status… just a bunch of pictures and a long-winded website.
https://www.rootsandmustardseeds.com/
There’s another prime downtown food and entertainment location taken over by social services. Go Pittsfield!
Fiscal Intermediary is the game they play for all these.
I am sure Mr Marchetti, city council president and oversight manager for the good of Pittsfieldalions, will make sure nothing unethical will happen there. He is running for mayor and it would look good if he was making sure things were on the up and up because that is what he stands for.
(unless he is busy that day)
Relachs friend. It’s fine r your ye own good.
Krol is working the minority voters and especially the west side minority voters to get their support in his bid for the corner office pretty hard. Gavel Pete better get going doing the same or it could come back to bite him in the behind. Haven’t heard anything about the G Man over there. Hopefully someone else will jump in and offer another option for people to choose from.
What is Krol doing specifically?
Prime you should be asking what Kroll and Marchetti are doing specifically. I haven’t heard either of these two duds mention what they would do differently if elected. They were both instrumental in turning Pittsfield into a third rate city and now they want to be mayor. I say they have some nerve to try to stuff their unqualified selves down our throats. Don’t be fooled by these two gobsigs. They are not what they would like us to think they are. They are bona-fide failures. Give the third candidate your vote. He is very smart and very accomplished and would truly look out for Pittsfield and all of its people.
At least throw some questions out there. Who are they planning for administration positions for one. I’m sure they have some idea who they are going to have a board, who you’re gonna get rid? Or keep? Or all to say same old same old? That’s for starters.
Truthfully, I don’t trust krol or marchetti
I was happy to vote for Bowler and Shugrue. Just don’t feel the same about krolchetti.
Does there have to be a minimum of voters to show up for the election to be declared valid?
And just how embarrassing will it be for the city if only two percent of Pittsfield voters feel motivated enough to get off their couches and vote in this sad spectacle?
Fizzle your correct. The average voter is not involved. The only people who vote are gobsigs. Their numbers are just enough to get the gobsig candidate into office and the status quo is completed. The average voter needs to know that a non gobsig candidate is running and that’s the gman. He has more brains in his little toe and yet he faces an up hill battle. The race is a piece of cake for him re. The other two gobsig candidates but it’s the turn out that is of greatest importance.if each of us could convince 5 other people that there is non gobsig candidate running then G would have a chance. Talk to everyone and get them to the pols. This is a very critical election and we must beat the two dead beat obsequious gobsig candidates. If G wins every thing will change for the better and I mean every thing.fiscal austerity will rule the day every day
Your problem is the problem. Nothing will ever change in This city. To many established cliques.
Then perhaps you should get out there and actually campaign.
No minimum needed
I have heard of people who say he gets back to them about the questions they have via phone, FB, or even in person. Any candidate running for election should be doing so. Sounds like of the 3 running he is so far running hard. I still hold out hope someone jumps in.
I responded earlier today and waiting for post to go through.
Have to get in touch with Howie Carr. According to a trusted source the state is sending the homeless to MCLA and the college has no say. I find it interested that when the homeless showed up at Martha’s Vineyard it ended up being a one week vacation! There are many empty places between Boston and North Adams that the state could utilize. Yet they choose to send them to the smallest and poorest city in the Commonwealth!! How is the infrastructure going to handle this onslaught!! They are ill equipped to handle their current populace let alone a bunch of Boston rejects! Keep them in Boston where the 1 million citizens can absorb them! Where are all our elected officials in this violation of public trust???? I guess this is what we should expect from our one party Communist Democratic Party!!
SHIRL
Send me an email at danvalenti@verizon.net. I’ll send you contact information for Howie.
According to this article from the boring broadsheet the deal is already done to give millions to MCLA to house 50 homeless families.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/northern_berkshires/mcla-berkshire-towers-homeless-shelter-plan-could-bring-millions-to-college/article_d2df9188-dfc8-11ed-91a3-531c490df294.html
Posting job openings for a deal that isn’t done? The college gets $2.8 mil a year and taxpayers get to pickup the cost of a already struggling economic tax base for the rest of the needs required to have them in the
communities.
Why do you think that stooge supports it on his stupid show
All mayoral candidates should provide resumes and confirmed salary histories. I want to know who is actually qualified for the position.
The third candidate is the only Frank candidate. The other two are special interest aka gobsigs. Let’s hear from the two retreads if they will close a school or two and consolidate. Not explore it. These two have been on the city council in the cities path of destruction. Benefitting only groups that have the votes and the power to re-elect them,they know this.
The third candidate without the help of the media will try to separate and distinguish who has the best agenda for the taxpayers best interest and already has initialized his own campaign on his p c t v show and in the print media which is a requirement by said media, by law. So the Planet can rest at ease,it’s his prerogative on here not to advance the third candidates platform and he’s fine with that. The third candidate will also participate in debates. The third candidate has nothing to lose. He will expose the two favorites position on topic going forward.
Two of his greatest concerns is the water plant project and the school budget.He will address well before election time. He realizes there are state requirements in funding with that particular budget, but guarantees his concept will be to cut or consolidate first and foremost at any cost. His philosophy is if it’s broke don’t increase.
As Mayor he will stop the water project, has been in contact with the e p a and will personally be involved with the current ridiculous proposed cost of the water plant going forward,free of cost. If Mayor,by law.. These are just a couple samplings of his agenda.
Why? Marchetti works at a bank Krol has a podcast and the third candidate is retired.
Why not Craig? What do you have to hide?
As of last week an autistic victim of violence was told by the secretary at the DA’s office that they were having a lot of technical difficulties around their emails and this is why they’ve ot had an email response from their victim witness advocate.
Given how much of the legal system now happens electronically this is unacceptable.
And this is just the latest in a long line of “greatest hits” from the victim witness advocates office.
Before we lovefest the victim witness advocates, you should know that the victim who is desperately seeking assistance from their victim witness advocate is a 59-year-old autistic woman who has been a victim of household violence and when the man was removed from the house on a restraining order, he then impersonated an police officer via text in order to terrorize the woman.
Pittsfield Police department was phenomenal the night that happened around getting the victim into a safe place for the night.
Eventually the guy was arrested and is charged with violating a restraining order.
Unfortunately this is a man with a long history of targeting disabled women, women who use drugs, and women who have money but are vulnerable in other ways, e.g., they recently lost a spouse or are working full time and also caring for an elderly parent, or are in the midst of life-changing medical issues.
The man has a long track record of targetting certain types of women and has had police involvement in several towns. Somehow one town doesn’t seem to know that something happened with him in another town, but I would hope that this would be an area in which the DA’s office would take an investigatory lead in determining how much contact police in the various towns in Berkshire County have had with this man that did not result in arrest, but still may be significant.
This man was also involved in the brutal beating of a school teacher at Fox Hollow several years ago. He was not the one charged and sentenced although he did leave the country for several months after the sentencing .of his friend, who was later exonerated. If this was a television show, that would be a juicy lead in the case of the school teacher that went missing here last year.
Okay back to the autistic woman. Her experience with the victim witness advocate office is continually negative.
On the morning that the man was arrested for the restraining order violation the woman received a phone call from the victims witness advocate named Oliver— he thankfully no longer
is with the district attorney’s office. Oliver asked the victim what she would like to see happen at the hearing and the victim was very clear that because of the type of violation,impersonating a police officer, that the man be held without bail or on a dangerousness hold.
The woman,who lives pretty close to the courthouse, told Oliver that she would be there in about 15 minutes to participate in the hearing.
Oliver said the hearing was already underway.
The victim then asked the hearing to be put on hold a few minutes until they were able to arrive and be heard. Oliver then said the hearing was already done and the abuser was being released, that the next hearing is going to be 3 months down the road to which the victim replied it doesn’t matter he’ll have killed me by then. Oliver tells the victim will probably not, to which the victim responds with ” well actually…”
Women are brutally slaughtered by these men in Pittsfield once or twice a year and it always comes out that your office was aware and did nothing to provide any kind of meaningful and also lawful intervention for the future victims of brutal murder.
Luckily the woman is not killed, yet anyway, and continues to reach out to the DA’s office for updates.
The VWA does not Inform the victim of upcoming court dates; the victim finds out after the fact by calling the courthouse and then calls her victim witness advocate to find out the results of the hearing and is always told they’re in court, they’re at lunch, they’re in meetings.
The one phone contact initiated by the woman who just won the award happened on a Sunday afternoon late in the day. It concerns us that this was an outside of the office hours contact, and the victim would like proof that this phone call was really made by a victim witness advocate. As of now, the only way the victim finds out the outcomes of the hearings by calling the courts directly.
Based on information she receives, she will follow up with the victim witness advocates office to ask questions like okay this guy said he can’t participate in the hearing due to medical issues is there documentation and has that documentation been verified and is told either that their advocate is in court ,at lunch, or in a meeting.
Every. Single. Time
We all know the non- answer is the answer and all we can surmise until we learn otherwise is that the DA’s office is doing nothing behalf of this victim in terms of protecting them and the greater community, or dng ny kind of investigation.
One afternoon this victim was able to get through to the woman assigned to be her vwa and was asking about a recent hearing only to be told that the advocate did not like the woman’s tone of voice. This advocate then proceeded to berate the victim.
Due to their autism the victim has a tone of voice which can be described as strident, and also knows that voice modulation is not their jam, no matter how hard they try.
The woman who has lived with this voice for almost 60 years explained that she is on the spectrum and one of her autistic traits is that their tone of voice is always the same and she does understand that due to how she speaks, people often react as if the woman is angry when she is not; it is just her tone of voice.
The woman asked the advocate to acknowledge that and move forward with answering the questions and the advocate absolutely refused, continually telling this woman that because of their tone of voice and how they speak— and this person is definitely not good at voice modulation—they needed to call crisis not the DA’s office and that the victim witness advocate hoped the woman felt better soon.
The district attorney’s office victim witness advocate told an autistic victim of a violent crime that they hope she feels better soon.
Just pause on that for a minute.
You are autistic,and the supposedly trained professional berates you and tells you to feel better as if you have the common cold.
At this point the victim asked to be transferred to the supervisor of the victim witness office and is told that the supervisor is not in for the rest of the day and it’s the weekend and our victim is not transferred and is hung up on.
The victim then has to call back the district attorney’s office and ask for the voicemail of the supervisor.
Finally assigned a new victim witness advocate just last week the victim decides that because they can’t modulate their voice they will send an email because they do pretty well on paper, to the new advocate and again receives no response.
Today as far as we can ascertain, there is no investigation by the district attorney’s office around the man’s history of violence towards women.
Salt in the wound is that we are now on our second or third community read of a book written by a woman who is the victim of domestic / dating violence and are being asked to join community discussions about the book.
But that’s all part of the woke agenda isn’t it?Look like you’re being proactive and community engaged and pat you and your cohorts on the back well actually doing nothing in your community for the real live (for now)local victims. AND they’re getting paid for this so-called community involvement.
The women of Berkshire County do not need to read a damn book. The women of Berkshire County are telling their victim witness advocates this is a red flag, that is a red flag, and the women of Berkshire County are being ignored and gaslighted by the victim witness advocates office.
If it bleeds it leads and if it bleeds and leads and you wantd to be elected or re-elected well…damn. That murder trial is vote making headlines. Preventing that murder in the first place never makes headlines.
We’ve learned there are about 300 victims in Berkshire County eligible for victim witness advocate services.
Are they all being treated with this level of disinterest and contempt?